Logical reasoning PrepTest 119 · Section 2 · Question 12

Question prompt

Researcher: We studied two Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right

Credited answer: E

The notes below walk through why it fits the stem and how to eliminate the rest.

Argument or Facts

Facts

Valid or Flawed

NA

Question Type

Must Be True Questions

Stimulus Summary

Group A - Daily afternoon exercise, 33% deeper sleep
Group B (“Control”) - Little to no exercise, not as deep sleep
Afternoon exercise causes body temp to go up, causing deeper sleep

Answer Anticipation

There are two “parts” to this stimulus - the study and its results; and the concluding causality.
The study takes a look at a group of volunteers - one a control group, the other a group that did some afternoon exercise. They didn’t study different levels of exercise, or exercise at different points in the day. They also didn’t state that they controlled for other variables - just exercise. If this were a flaw-based question, we’d have a field day with alternative causes! Because of that, it’s unlikely that this study will support an answer, as it’s too limited and flawed to back something up.
However, the last sentence establishes two causal relationships (exercising causes an increase in body temp; an increase in body temp causes a deeper sleep), and we know that causal statements tend to play into correct Must be True answers. As such, we should head into the answer choices looking for something that applies those relationships.

Answer choices

  1. A
    Regular afternoon exercise is Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited
    This answer is too strong in saying that exercise is “required” for “adequate” deep sleep. It may help with sleep, but there’s no sign that it’s required. Additionally, the group that exercised had 33% more sleep, which isn’t necessarily an adequate amount.
  2. B
    Exercise in the morning Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited
    Morning exercise is out of scope. It’s possible that the body heat generated would dissipate by bedtime!
  3. C
    The best way to Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C is not credited
    This answer is too strong in calling something the “best” method for getting more deep sleep.
  4. D
    No one in the Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D is not credited
    Since the argument talks in averages across the group, it’s possible that some members of the control group had elevated body temps right before bed and therefore had better sleep than their Group B peers.
  5. E
    Raising body temperature slightly Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E matches the stem
    While taking a warm bath isn’t discussed in the stimulus, that last line establishes a slight increase in body temperature as inducing a deeper sleep. As such, anything that slightly increases body temperature will have that effect, which in turn induces deeper sleep. This answer is supported by the stimulus.

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A 7%
  2. B 1%
  3. C 14%
  4. D 18%
  5. E Credited 59%

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